Gage County adopts revised livestock setbacks, requires 'tree and maintenance' plan

The Gage County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt revised livestock regulations under Resolution 26‑18, approving a 0.25‑mile setback for Facility B, reinstating a tree‑and‑maintenance plan as part of the permit process, and including a clerical '6 b 5 if needed' clarification. The board’s final vote on the resolution carried with six votes in favor; one board member voted nay.

Supervisor Haxby, who introduced survey results at the meeting, argued the changes reflected local input and balance between agricultural growth and neighbors' quality of life. Haxby said the survey of 105 respondents showed a majority of respondents are local agricultural operators and that many supported allowing operators and adjacent neighbors to agree to smaller setbacks. “We spend a lot of time saying that Gage County is ag friendly,” Haxby said during discussion.

Board members debated specific distances for different facility categories and whether to restore earlier, larger setbacks. One proposed amendment to increase certain setbacks to 0.375 of a mile failed for lack of a second. The board also amended the draft to replace a narrowly worded roadside tree requirement with a broader “tree and maintenance plan for the facility,” arguing that plan language allows staff and applicants to account for wind direction and other site‑specific factors.

The board received public testimony during the hearing and heard county planning staff explain that Planning & Zoning had recommended a shorter setback to encourage agricultural growth for smaller or nascent operations. The resolution was described by the chair as a product of both PNZ recommendations and public hearing input. The board did not direct further immediate changes but allowed future amendments through the normal PNZ process.